Matthew Seneca and Sarah Hayes Harkins are bringing Argentine tango — and a new kind of event space — to Charlotte. Together, they founded Tango CLT, a school for the dramatic partner dance, and The Long Room, a Plaza Midwood venue that blends art, community and celebration.

Both come from performing arts backgrounds — Seneca in theater and teaching, Harkins as a ballerina with Charlotte Ballet — and they’ve found a surprising overlap between the discipline of the stage and the demands of running a business. From building a tango community to learning the ins and outs of event planning, they’re charting their own path in Charlotte’s growing cultural scene.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Matthew and Sarah share why tango offers a depth and community that other dances don’t, the challenges of starting an event venue, how The Long Room stands out and how they’re growing a consistent tango community with weekly classes and monthly brunches.

The background music for this episode is a piece called “El Idioma del Bosque,” composed by Ramiro Gallo. It translates to “the language of the forest.”

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Matthew and Sarah. For more information on Tango CLT, visit https://www.tangoclt.com/, or to book The Long Room, visit https://www.thelongroomcharlotte.com/.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

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